What's sad is that Tim hero-worshipping Dick like that and being all "wow, he's the greatest!" almost seems too innocent a scenario to be seen in comics today, you know? Example: Damian.
It's also interesting how reading this, it seems like in some ways Tim comes from our world, watching Batman and Robin and knowing their secrets, but then he walks right into the their story and starts playing a part in it. I can really see how he would be a Robin that kids could latch onto and relate to, far more than Jason Todd at the time, because of that aspect of his character. Gary Stu or not, there are a lot of Tim Drake fans out there.
"--I believe Master Bruce is almost as obsessive about family as he is about preventing crime."
And that, Alfred, is why you are the Goddamned Alfred. I don't think I've ever come across it put just like that, but it's very true. The difference being, of course, that Bruce doesn't acknowledge or admit the family aspect as openly as he does crime.